Children's lunch boxes will be policed as part of Labour's crackdown on school dinners. Headteachers will need to publish lunchbox policies online to coincide with new Government rules, which require schools to scrap sugar and processed foods for healthier natural options.
New school food standards announced
The Department for Education (DfE) announced the changes on Monday as part of an updated set of school food standards, which will come into effect from September 2027. It recommends banning sugary drinks, crisps and confectionery from children's lunch boxes, and rewarding students with prizes for healthy lunchboxes.
The updated checklist, originally produced in 2019, shows parents what is acceptable to pack in lunch boxes. The guidance suggests schools "do not allow" certain items, but it does not require teachers to check children's individual packed lunches.
Once-in-a-generation change
Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, said it was a "once-in-a-generation" change. The last major overhaul came when Jamie Oliver's 2005 campaign forced the government to overhaul the nutritional standards for school meals, resulting in the much-loved turkey twizzlers being banished.
The latest shake-up wants to see dishes such as pizza replaced by healthier alternatives. Sweet desserts such as cake would only be served once a week at primary school and twice at secondary schools, with items such as crackers and grapes, watermelon, and custard with banana in their place.
Example menus and free school meals
Example menus provided by the DfE suggested meals like chicken and lentil curries, with rice, peas and naan bread on "pulse day".
Ms Powell said: "These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country.
"From our historic expansion of free school meals to the rollout of free breakfast clubs and new school food standards, we are making sure that every child has access to the healthy meals we know children need to learn, grow and succeed.
"No child should spend the school day hungry, and no family should have to struggle to put food on the table. This is what change looks like: healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child."
